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Updated: June 28, 2025
"Do what you will, but until then it is Esmay who stands first, and he lives under her shadow." The young men had been walking in the direction of the Citadel Square, and the time had come for Constans to decide whether or not he should give Ulick his full confidence.
It was all so beautiful, and in that same measure it hurt so keenly. The girl flung herself face downward in the grass, seeking to shut out from sight and hearing the world that mocked her. That same night Esmay went to Nanna and announced her intention of paying another visit to the "House of Power."
But Esmay, at the last moment, could not bring herself to don habiliments exclusively masculine. So she compromised by wearing a round jacket with a rolling collar and tucking away her hair under a boy's cap. A long rain-coat, for which the showery morning was an excuse, completed her outward attire and concealed her petticoats from casual view.
Whatever his intentions concerning her, she could not be the worse off for knowing them. So she went on, steadily: "Since you have already decided upon my future, argument would be useless. But perhaps I may assume that you have acted with some small regard for my interests." "Not the least in the world," returned Quinton Edge, and Esmay smiled involuntarily at frankness so unblushing.
For all that, the sisterly relation was the true one between them; they were of the same strong breed, even if Esmay were only in half a daughter of the Doomsmen. Nanna had never been able to forget that her father's second wife had been of the blood of the despised House People. In spite of herself she had learned to love the dead Elena; she adored Esmay as a part of herself.
"Don't be such a coward; he can't get away," he continued, examining his victim's bonds with critical attention. "Look, Esmay; if he moves he hangs himself. A fix, isn't it?" and the boy laughed contentedly. It had been rare sport, this trapping of a man, worth half a dozen wolves or even a bear. "Hollo! Esmay," he called again, and the girl came up slowly. "You did it splendidly," said the boy.
"I could have gone out, met him face to face and killed him," he said, sombrely, "only for you and your Esmay." February, and a full three months since Constans had come to Doom. And yet he was virtually at his starting-point, so little had he been able to accomplish along the line of his purpose.
He managed to catch Ulick's eye as the train swept by, and for an instant the latter drew rein, bending low over his saddle-bow as he whispered to Constans, standing in the shadow of the guard-hut: "In half an hour at the old library," and then, with passionate eagerness, "Esmay have you seen her?" "Yes," answered Constans, and the next instant could have bitten his unthinking tongue in twain.
But Esmay, holding herself as straight and white as the portico column behind her, made no sign of even hearing, and Quinton Edge fell upon a sudden earnestness of speech and manner. "Then since neither of you have a word to say, you must perforce listen to me of a matter equally concerning you, Esmay Scarlett, a daughter of the Doomsmen, and you, Constans, son of Gavan of the keep.
"Do you suppose that our master is going out to pick flowers? Help me with this buckle, little sister, and talk not so foolishly." And forthwith Esmay submitted to this new Nanna in doublet and small-clothes, who spoke with authority and took such tremendously long strides.
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